Heineken/Challenge Cup Format 23/24

[Neill_M]

The Champions Cup will be competed for by 24 elite clubs with eight representatives from the TOP 14, eight from the Gallagher Premiership and eight from the BKT United Rugby Championship (URC). (See qualifiers below)

The clubs will be divided into four pools of six by means of a draw with Champions Cup winners, Stade Rochelais, League winners, Saracens and Munster Rugby, as well as the winners of Saturday’s TOP 14 final between Stade Rochelais and Stade Toulousain, making up Tier 1 with each club drawn into a separate pool at the outset.

If Stade Rochelais happen to win the TOP 14 title, then the Champions Cup final runners-up, Leinster Rugby, will be included in Tier 1.

The remaining 20 clubs make up Tier 2 and will be either drawn or allocated into the four pools by means of an ‘open’ draw with the following in-built key principles:

There can only be a maximum of two clubs from the same league in each pool.

Clubs from the same URC Shield cannot be in the same pool. Therefore, the Irish qualifiers – Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Ulster Rugby and Connacht Rugby – will each be in a different pool, and similarly, the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls from South Africa will be kept apart during the draw.

There will be no matches between clubs from the same league, so for the purposes of creating the fixtures, each club will play four matches against four different clubs who are not from the same league either home or away during the pool stage.

At the conclusion of the pool stage, the four highest-ranked clubs from each pool will qualify for the Round of 16 and the clubs ranked number five in each of the pools will qualify for the knockout stage of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The EPCR Challenge Cup will be competed for by 18 clubs with eight representatives from the URC, six from the TOP 14, two from the Premiership, plus two invited clubs which will be announced shortly. (See clubs below)

The clubs will be drawn or allocated into three pools of six with two TOP 14 clubs in each pool. Clubs from the same URC Shield and from the Premiership, as well as the two invitees, will be kept apart during the draw.

Clubs will play four different opponents home or away with same-league matches being kept to a minimum, and only impacting clubs from the URC. The four highest-ranked clubs from each of the pools will qualify for the knockout stage.

The pool draws for the 2023/24 tournaments will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday 21 June and will be broadcast live on EPCRugby.TV. Further details and timings will be communicated shortly.

2023/24 CHAMPIONS CUP QUALIFIERS
TOP 14 – Stade Rochelais, Stade Toulousain, Racing 92, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Lyon, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Aviron Bayonnais
GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Saracens, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Bath Rugby, Bristol Bears
BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Munster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Leinster Rugby, Ulster Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Connacht Rugby, Cardiff Rugby

2023/24 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP QUALIFIERS
BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Cell C Sharks, Emirates Lions, Benetton Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby, Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma
TOP 14 – Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Montpellier Herault Rugby, Section Paloise, USAP, Oyonnax Rugby
GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons
INVITED – Two clubs to be confirmed

2023/24 WEEKENDS
Round 1 – 8/9/10 December 2023
Round 2 – 15/16/17 December 2023
Round 3 – 12/13/14 January 2024
Round 4 – 19/20/21 January 2024
Round of 16 – 5/6/7 April 2024
Quarter-finals – 12/13/14 April 2024
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 24 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Champions Cup final – Saturday 25 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

[So It Is]

So for us to avoid a potential fixture against a Tier 1 side we need to hope to be in Munster or if LaR win on Saturday, Leinster's group?

The Tier 2 sides that get doled out away games to Tier 1 sides will be at a severe disadvantage. Don't see how this is an improvement on last year's (crap) format when at least you had the same teams both home and away.

The thought of Ulster going away to LaR or Sarries

[DodgyEverything]

So for us to avoid a potential fixture against a Tier 1 side we need to hope to be in Munster or if LaR win on Saturday, Leinster's group?

The Tier 2 sides that get doled out away games to Tier 1 sides will be at a severe disadvantage. Don't see how this is an improvement on last year's (crap) format when at least you had the same teams both home and away.

The thought of Ulster going away to LaR or Sarries

Clubs from the same URC Shield cannot be in the same pool. Therefore, the Irish qualifiers – Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Ulster Rugby and Connacht Rugby – will each be in a different pool

Can't be in the same pool as an Irish side.

What a complete horlix of a system though

[Neill_M]

So for us to avoid a potential fixture against a Tier 1 side we need to hope to be in Munster or if LaR win on Saturday, Leinster's group?

The Tier 2 sides that get doled out away games to Tier 1 sides will be at a severe disadvantage. Don't see how this is an improvement on last year's (crap) format when at least you had the same teams both home and away.

The thought of Ulster going away to LaR or Sarries

We will face a Tier 1 side regardless, either Saracens/La Rochelle/Toulouse (NEED TO WIN ON SATURDAY). Could still draw Toulouse if they aren't seeded etc. Could in theory get both La Rochelle and Toulouse.

[jean valjean]

Who we get in the home games will be key. With 4 out of 6 qualifying only those targeting a home last 16 will try and win away matches. If we got saracens or LA away you would be near enough guaranteed a loss. If we got them at home it is still a possible loss coupled with 2 more 50/50 away games

[So It Is]

So for us to avoid a potential fixture against a Tier 1 side we need to hope to be in Munster or if LaR win on Saturday, Leinster's group?

The Tier 2 sides that get doled out away games to Tier 1 sides will be at a severe disadvantage. Don't see how this is an improvement on last year's (crap) format when at least you had the same teams both home and away.

The thought of Ulster going away to LaR or Sarries

Clubs from the same URC Shield cannot be in the same pool. Therefore, the Irish qualifiers – Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Ulster Rugby and Connacht Rugby – will each be in a different pool

Can't be in the same pool as an Irish side.

What a complete horlix of a system though

Fair point.

[BR]

If ASR win the Brennus, we will either get them or Sarries.
Connacht will get the other.

[BR]

Hoping for
ST home
Bristol away
Nham home
AB away

[solidarity]

Horlix is too good a word for it.

Eight pools of three; one club from each league.
Play home and away, top team in each group goes through.
Simples.

[Neill_M]

Horlix is too good a word for it.

Eight pools of three; one club from each league.
Play home and away, top team in each group goes through.
Simples.

4 games would require 6 weekends given you have a pool of 3, each side would have two bye weekends. If we can go back to 6 weekends in the pool phase in 24/25, then bring back the old pools of 4.

[Neill_M]

Of the possible opponents, Ulster have never played Lyon and Bayonne in Top 14 and Bristol in the Premiership in the competition (to the best of my knowledge).

[Dave]

Can we win one game and qualify for the knockouts?

[Hans Indaruck]

Of the possible opponents, Ulster have never played Lyon and Bayonne in Top 14 and Bristol in the Premiership in the competition (to the best of my knowledge).

We played Bayonne about 10 or 11 years ago (and beat them away if I remember correctly), I think the only time we played Bristol was the Ravens playing them in the old B&I Cup. Don’t recall playing Lyon.

[justinr73]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rug ... 03726.html

Lyon would be alright. Spent a few days there on the way to La Rochelle.

Would suit the fine dining lovers amongst the travelling hordes.

[big mervyn]

Can we win one game and qualify for the knockouts?

With this format, it would seem possible to win no games and qualify for the knockouts!